Last December, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste instituted proceedings before the International Court of Justice against Australia relating to the seizure by "agents of Australia" of certain "documents, data and other property" beloning to Timor-Leste. It filed a request for the indication of provisional measures to prevent Australia from using the documents and data contrary to the rights of Timor-Leste. The documents reportedly relate in part (but not exclusively) to the conduct of a pending arbitration under the Timor Sea Treaty between Timor-Leste and Australia.

The International Court of Justice has now fixed a briefing schedule for the case. Timor-Leste must file its memorial by the end of April and Australia must reply by the end of July. Click here to read the ICJ press release.

The case is called Questions Relating to the Seizure and Detention of Certain Documents and Data (Timor-Leste v. Australia).